College of Business

Hawaii Pacific University, College of Business History

Hawaii Pacific University, founded in 1965, is a private, coeducational institution. The 135-acre campus is located in an urban area in Honolulu. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 8080.

The College of Business was founded in 1986 and is located on the main campus. Courses also are offered at military installations on Oahu and Kapolei and through distance learning. The basic educational approach is to integrate the theoretical concepts with practical applications. The primary mode of instruction involves case studies, presentations, and lectures.

Hawaii Pacific University, College of Business Academics

The HPU’s College of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) as well as a joint degree in information systems (MBA/MSIS), human resource management, organizational change, global leadership (MBA/MA), nursing (MBA/MSN), and communication (MBA/MA). Other programs include 3-2 undergraduate degrees with Washington University at St. Louis and the University of Southern California, work-study programs, foreign exchange with Sweden, France, and Korea, and internship programs. The strongest areas of study are marketing, international business, mangement, and finance. The most popular courses are International Business Management, Accounting, and Human Resource Management. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus. One-year programs bring visiting professors from all over the world.

Forty-five total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 12 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Accounting for Managers
• Economics for Business
• Corporate Information Systems
• Financial Management and Strategy
• Law for Managers
• International Business Management
• Human Resource Management
• Marketing Strategy for Managers
• Quantitative Methods

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements through previous course work at the graduate level or examinations.

Business students may take relevant nonbusiness courses in other departments. The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 1 year; maximum, 7 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 3 years; maximum, 7 years.

There are 18 total full-time graduate business faculty, all of whom hold a doctorate; there are 10 part-time faculty, of whom 10% hold a doctorate. Average number of courses faculty teach is 8; average business class size is 20.

Hawaii Pacific University, College of Business Unique Programs

Library

The university’s main library houses a collection of more than 150,000 volumes, 310,069 microform items, 782 special business collections, and 6423 audio/video tapes/CDs, and subscribes to 1958 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in accounting and human resource management. Students have access to such databases and networks as Dialog, CARL, DEPD-Tourism, and the Internet. Other opportunities for research consist of resources at the nearby main state library and the University of Hawaii Library.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of 330 DOS-based PCs, 2 UNIX servers with 35 terminals, a 50-user Novell network, Windows, UnixWare, Novell Netware, OS/2, and NT/Server. The facilities are available 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include the same services as for current students. Placement is available through the university placement office and international agencies.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL or the IELTS. International students must score 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 80 on the Internet-Based version (iBT). They also must submit a translation of their transcripts, proof of health consisting of a tuberculin test and proof of 2 doses of measles vaccine, and proof of adequate funds to cover 1 academic year of study. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of on-campus employment, scholarships, and graduate assistantships. The application deadline for fall entry is open.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 15 weeks long; summer sessions, 7 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the day and evening and weekends.

Hawaii Pacific University, College of Business Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 2.7. Most important admissions factors are grades in upper-level courses, GMAT results, and essays. A strong mathematics background is not required.

Transfers are accepted. Minority students are actively recruited.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. To apply, students must submit an application form, a transcript, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $50, 2 letters of recommendation, and an essay describing academic and career goals. The application deadline is rolling for fall entry. Students are notified of the admissions decision on a rolling basis. Once accepted, students may defer admission for up to 6 months.

Hawaii Pacific University, College of Business Financial Aid

The FAFSA is required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for all students is $520 per credit, or $12,480 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $9000; books and supplies, $1543, for an estimated annual total of $23,023. Graduate student housing consists of on-campus dormitories; university-leased apartments off campus are available through the housing office. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

Hawaii Pacific University, College of Business Students

Sixty-two percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time; 86% have had an average of 10 years of full-time work experience prior to entering graduate school, a factor preferred by the school. Twenty-seven percent of students are from Hawaii. Forty-seven percent are women, 65% are minorities, and 49% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 29; ages range from 20 to 68. Thirty percent enter directly from undergraduate school; 15% already have a graduate degree. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 25%, business; 15%, liberal arts; 15%, social sciences; 10%, math and science; 5%, economics; and 3%, engineering. About 15% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons; 49% remain to receive their degree. In 2006, 102 graduate business degrees were awarded.